The 20 Barriers 5 mile race Carnforth Tuesday, 4^th July, 2006

The Race is organised by Dallam RC and starts at Carnforth High School. Runners are taken over varied terrain, which includes running along canals and through fields. The race gets its names because participants must overcome twenty barriers of various types including stiles fences and the like. Some more difficult than others.

MARTIN ‘S RACE RATINGS.

Do it again: Definitely

Scenery: 8 good views of Morecambe Bay on the way out and Hutton Roof on the way back.

Atmosphere: 8

Organisation: 10 simple, no fuss race, well waymarked and a draw for a pair of trainers of which you have a one in a hundred chance of winning.

Value: 10 £4 to enter and results will be e-mailed back to you.

Beginner Friendly: 9

I was due to go for a curry tonight, but my friend gave back word as he wanted to watch Germany v Italy. I know where I’d rather be.

This is my first 20 Barriers Race and probably the first race I’ve done that Dave and Kath haven’t!!! Pete and I did a one and a half mile warm up; not that you needed to warm up as it must have been 80 degrees!

The race did a lap of a field, then under part of a fence with the bottom rung missing! Everyone set off like rockets to get to the broken fence first! The route then headed towards the canal and the Canal Turn Pub where Michaela decided to spectate. I passed a few on the canal towpath. One barge had a grass roof. After a while we left the canal and headed up through a forest. It seemed similar to the Gibson Grind, but without the limestone. The views were good here, down into Morecambe Bay. The stiles keep breaking your stride, but it was still a very enjoyable race. I found myself trying to count how many we’d done, because they were starting to grind me down!

After about half an hour, for the first time, three or four runners came past, just when my mind was wandering. I was wondering if my old friend, and NF runner, Malc Sherwood would take offence at being called a “former average runner” on the NF Message Board! It pulled me to my senses and I overtook three runners as I thought there couldn’t be long left. I started to recognise the route and tried to speed up.

I finished a respectable 23^rd in 41:42 and had about four cups of water. I chatted to a runner from Forton, who was just behind me, when I went flying on the Gibson Grind. I was pleased with my run. (I hadn’t walked once!). Peter Cruse was 7^th in 37:29. Eddie Simpson, (Salford) was 1^st for the 2^nd year running, (time not yet known). We handed in our numbers for the Saucony shoe draw and headed home.

FULL RESULTS

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 4^th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor